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Essence Backlash

{2}{U}{R}

Instant

RTRReturn to Ravnica#160common
Foil

"The other guilds will learn the hard way not to interfere with our investigations." —Bori Andon, Izzet blastseeker

Border
black
Frame
2003
Pull rate
about 1 per booster–1 in 933
Illustrator
Jung Park
Found in
Return to Ravnica MTGO Redemption · Return to Ravnica MTGO Redemption Foil · 8 more
Printings1
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality
AlchemyNot legal
BrawlNot legal
CommanderLegal
Competitive BrawlNot legal
DuelLegal
Future StandardNot legal
GladiatorNot legal
HistoricNot legal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
Old SchoolNot legal
PauperLegal
Pauper CommanderLegal
PennyLegal
PioneerLegal
PreDHNot legal
PremodernNot legal
StandardNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Tiny LeadersNot legal
VintageLegal
Counter target creature spell. Essence Backlash deals damage equal to that spell's power to its controller.

Plays as: Counterspell

Market · per finishspark updated 6h ago · prices as of 2026-07-12
Nonfoil-11.1%
$0.08
$0.01 low$0.00 gap
Foil+0.0%
$0.21
$0.10 low$0.02 gap
Cheapest playable copy$0.08· across 1 printing

Rulings

3 · latest Oct 1, 2012 · one tap opens all
  • WotCOct 1, 2012

    Abilities that change the power of a creature (such as the one of Collective Blessing) affect only creatures on the battlefield. They won’t change a creature spell’s power on the stack.

  • WotCOct 1, 2012

    Essence Backlash can target a creature spell that can’t be countered. If Essence Backlash resolves, it won’t counter the spell but it will still deal damage.

  • WotCOct 1, 2012

    If the creature’s power is * and it has an ability defining its power, use that ability to determine its power.

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